Better bus area consultation
People living and working in the area around Edward Street in Brighton will have the opportunity to give their views on the ‘Better Bus Area’ transport scheme which aims to make bus journeys easier and more reliable as well as improve routes for pedestrians and cyclists.
Consultation begins today, Monday, 13 May and will run until 21 June on the first phase of work which covers the area from the junction of Edward Street with Pavilion Gardens to the junction of Eastern Road with Freshfield Road.
There will be further consultation on proposals for Eastern Road and the Valley Gardens area in the coming year.
Local people will be able to view the proposals in more detail and talk them through with the council’s transport staff at a public exhibition which is being held at Brighton Youth Centre on May 25 from 2pm to 8pm, as well as at Local Action Team (LAT) meetings on 15 May (Tarner LAT, The Millwood Centre, 6.30pm) and 22 May (Queens Park LAT, Southover Pub, 7.30-9pm).
Details will be posted on the council’s website from Tuesday, 14 May at: www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/betterbusareas
Councillor Ian Davey, Brighton & Hove’s Lead Member for Transport, said: “This project is designed to improve the environment to make it a much better experience for people moving through the area, as well as addressing an increasing need for bus services, better crossing points and cycling facilities as a result of major developments such as the Royal Sussex County Hospital. We are looking forward to hearing from the local community as their views will make a difference to how this area is improved for the future.”
Proposals include shared bus, taxi and cycle lanes eastbound from the junction with Upper Rock Gardens to the junction with Freshfield Road and westbound along the length of Edward Street and new and improved pedestrian crossings.
In February 2012 the council won £3.48 million worth of funding from the Department for Transport for the Better Bus Area project which also includes the Lewes Road and Eastern Road areas. The total fund is £5.82 million with contributions added by the council and Brighton and Hove Bus Company.
The funding has already been used to increase and extend key bus services in the city, with the 23 service increased from two to three buses an hour with an evening and Sunday service added, the 38 service extended to serve Brighton Station and the 48 service increased from three to five buses an hour.
Buses travelling through the ‘better bus area’ carry in excess of 25 million passengers per year.
The results of the consultation will be reported to a future meeting of the Environment and Transport Committee. If agreed, work could start in the autumn.
For more information email transport.planning@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call (01273) 293862.
Notes for editors
Improvements around Valley Gardens, from The Level to the Old Steine in Brighton, are part of a wider public realm project to provide and attractive, flexible and safe space for people to enjoy year-round and at all times of the day. Those who live and work in the city are currently invited to contribute their ideas for what they would like to see in this area.
Extra funding for buses and improved bus stops along Lewes Road complements the wider transport scheme for that area which won £4.2m from the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund.